Bommai political aide calls for Ban on madrasas in Karnataka

Bengaluru, March 26: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s Political Secretary M P Renukacharya on Saturday demanded banning madrasas as he claimed they sow “anti-national seeds” in young minds. “I appeal to the Chief Minister and Primary and Secondary Education Minister to ban madrasas. They instill anti-national sentiments into young minds,” he told reporters here. “There is no need for madrasas. Do they allow non-Muslims into madrasas? Let Muslim students’ study in regular schools or madrasas should teach regular syllabus,” Renukacharya said. On the hijab row, he said it was created by the Congress party to gain the support of the minority community. “Who created the hijab issue? Who approached the court? Congress advocates. Popular Front of India and Social Democratic Party of India also created the row. Congress leaders Zameer Ahmed Khan and U T Khader supported the statewide bandh called by Muslim organizations against Karnataka High Court’s verdict. The issue was not created by BJP,” he said. The Court, Renukacharya clarified, has not banned the hijab. It has only directed the students to obey the dress code implemented in educational institutions, he said. Refuting allegations that he had obtained a fake SC certificate by using his political power, for his daughter, he said he would file a defamation case against Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesperson M Lakshmana. “I am secular and respect all castes,” Renukacharya said. Lakshmana on Friday had demanded the government to file a criminal case against Renukacharya for misusing government benefits meant for Scheduled Castes. He also alleged that the MLA had borrowed an education loan of Rs 45 lakh for his two children after submitting the fake caste certificates. Lakshmana also had appealed to the central SC/ST commission to probe the allegations. (UNI)